Buyer’s Guide: So What’s Next! by G J Griffiths

Targeted Age Group:: Age 14 to adultCategory: Children and Young Adult Books

Print book price range: $12.99
eBook price range: $2.99

About So What’s Next!:
Molly Pearson is a young Biology teacher with two passions in her life: a strong commitment to protecting wildlife; and a desire to encourage the children in her classes to feel the same enthusiasm for Nature. When her class decide they would like to restore the school’s neglected and vandalized nature corner her hopes are raised and challenged at the same time. The hurdles that she meets along the way will include bullied and bullying pupils, as well as the expected ones of finance and willing manpower.

But leaping those fences does not prepare the ambitious Molly for a dramatic fire and the confusion of a new passion in her life, in the form of Oliver Shrimpton. Will he become that significant someone, or is he just another obstacle for her to overcome?

G J Griffiths’ second novel, in the So What! series of stories, is still based firmly around the events that take place within the “walls” of Birch Green High School. It follows some of the trials and tribulations of Molly Pearson, a previous novice teacher who was mentored by Robert Jeffrey – the main character from the first book. Molly’s efforts to spread the important message, about protecting wildlife and the natural environment, reflect something that has always been important to the author. For that reason some of the proceeds from the sales of this book will be donated to wildlife charities. Although this book is an exciting novel telling the story of schoolchildren who want to protect garden wildlife, it also contains several chapters towards the end with plenty of helpful information for lovers of nature, and who want to take a fresh look at making their garden a wildlife garden.

Review examples:

REVIEW FOR SO WHAT’S NEXT! FROM CHRISTIE check this out:

(4 out of 5 stars)

As with any sequel to a great novel, readers anxiously hope that the sequel is as good as the first book. With the newly released sequel to “So What!”, G.J. Griffiths is spot on. He does a phenomenal job in making the sequel stand strongly by itself and as a companion novel to his first book. A reader can easily start with the second book and not get lost in the story.

Griffiths is so descriptive in his writing that you’d think he’d been writing novels for years and years, but this is only his third novel. He does a wonderful job closing the holes of all the characters’ and their side stories, so you’re not left wondering what happened with certain people and their dilemmas. His character development is fantastic, and you get a real sense of who everyone is in the book; they really come to life.

Griffiths is a UK writer and therefore writes what he knows…life in the UK. For a US reader, such as myself, some of what he wrote, I wasn’t familiar with such as the different dialects, different slang, and the way schools are run (as is seen in the first book). Fortunately, all of that can easily be deciphered. The author writes well enough, where it’s easy to figure things out if you’re not used to it. I really appreciate the author’s way of leaving profanity blank except for the first and last letters. I quickly discovered that the profanity used in the UK doesn’t always match the profanity of the US. Parents can rest easy with letting their kids read this book.

While the writing style of Griffiths was wonderful and the storyline and characters were solid, the first half of the book is rather slow, but it picks up about halfway through with the conflict going on around the main character. I also missed the humor that accompanied the first novel. This book was more serious than the first. As a whole, the book is a nice leisurely read. Perfect for nature lovers and educators alike. You can really sense the author’s passion for bird watching and nature conservation through the main character’s similar passions. It is a love and passion the main character, Molly, and the author both share.

and from:

Deborah Blanchard

(rated it 5 of 5 stars)

G J Griffiths does it again with book #2! This is a very well written book about the daily lives of teachers and of their students. It deals with peer pressure and the need to fit in. It also deals with teachers mandated reporting of suspected abuse. I actually liked this better than #1,and I loved #1. This story, although a work of fiction, is a true enactment of life as a teacher. Teachers have a very special gift that they pass on to our children and that is the need to learn. G.J. has a special gift of storytelling that will transcend time. An inspiring read that I highly recommend to all, especially to teachers. Maybe by reading stories like this we will appreciate what teachers do on a daily basis just a little bit better. Highly recommended! Great job, G.J.!

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Disclaimer: All information for this book was submitted by the author and is presented as is so you get to know the author and their style. Prices are subject to change.